'On the Road with Austin and Santino': Frankly, Scarlett, we already give a damn

Image Credit: Darren Michaels/Lifetime TelevisionAs the owner of one of the shortest attention spans known to TV land, I’m often hesitant about fully committing to a new series. But I have to say, I’m already in love with On the Road with Austin and Santino.

This week, the boys headed for Ruston, La. where Army Capt. Rosaline Johnson was in need of a dress for her graduation party. As one might expect, between her tour of duty in Iraq, her education, and motherhood, our protagonist had found little time in recent years to make fashion a priority. What was nice about Rosaline (as well as Sadie, the subject of last week’s season premiere) was the fact that she was totally sympathetic without ever asking for sympathy and inspiring — without the show overbearingly shoving the “inspirational” message down our throats. That’s a nice change of pace for a reality makeover show.

Cut to our designing duo for some dress-making and plantation antics. More of the latter, really. I’m finding that the show really has less to do with fashion and more to do with the effect fashion has on people. As a follow-up to a show like Project Runway, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Of course, this wouldn’t be an episode with hilarious sound bites. These were my favorites:

“She’s actually graduating with her Master’s, which will make her a Captain and a master.” — Austin

“In my past life, I was definitely a Belle and wore a hoop skirt every day” — Austin